When I Was Puerto Rican summary

Beginning in Puerto Rico

In Esmeralda Santiago's memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican, we see through the lens of Esmeralda herself, from childhood to adolescence, as she navigates life in Puerto Rico. As the eldest of seven children, Esmeralda is initially raised by her hardworking mother and unreliable father in a small rural village. Here, she learns about the traditions, customs, and folklore of her people, while also witnessing the harsh realities of poverty, abuse, and infidelity.

Esmeralda's mother struggles to hold their family together amidst a turbulent relationship with her father, who is often absent. Yet, despite the turmoil of their home life, Esmeralda finds moments of joy in the vitality of her culture, the rich landscapes of her homeland, and the simplicity of rural life. However, this idyllic childhood is shattered when Esmeralda's mother decides to move the family to Santurce, a bustling, urban barrio of San Juan, after her father abandons them.

Transition from Rural to Urban

Life in Santurce is drastically different from the rural existence Esmeralda has been accustomed to. The move proves challenging as Esmeralda tries to adapt to her new surroundings. Her mother's struggle to provide for the family intensifies, and they endure periods of hunger and hardship. In the midst of these challenges, Santiago paints an evocative picture of the colorful sights, sounds, and smells of her new environment, embedding us firmly within the bustling, vibrant world of urban Puerto Rico.

Despite their challenges, Esmeralda continues her education. School provides a haven from her home life but also presents a new set of difficulties. Here, she faces academic struggles, cultural expectations, and the prejudices of classmates who consider her a “jíbara,” or country bumpkin. This period of her life is marked by her struggle to understand her identity in a culture that values conformity.

Immigration to New York

Faced with escalating troubles in Puerto Rico, Esmeralda's mother makes the difficult decision to relocate the family to New York. Leaving behind the familiarity of their homeland, Esmeralda and her siblings are thrust into an entirely new environment. Santiago vividly captures the bewildering and disorienting experience of immigrating to a different country and trying to assimilate to a new culture, language, and way of life.

Esmeralda's adolescence in Brooklyn is marked by her continuing struggle with identity, now amplified by her status as an immigrant. Amidst the challenges of cultural adjustment, Esmeralda finds strength in education and the promise it offers of upward mobility. Still, she grapples with the tension of straddling two distinct cultures and the simultaneous longing and resistance she feels towards assimilation.

The Quest for Identity

Throughout When I Was Puerto Rican, Santiago's primary struggle is with her identity – as a woman, an immigrant, and a Puerto Rican. This journey of self-discovery comes to a head when she embarks on the formidable challenge of applying to New York City's prestigious Performing Arts High School. Santiago portrays this experience as a symbolic rite of passage, demonstrating her determination to defy expectations and carve a path of her own.

Upon reflection of her journey from Puerto Rico to New York, Santiago embraces the complexities of her dual identity. She recognizes that being Puerto Rican and also a New Yorker does not make her less of either. Santiago beautifully encapsulates the immigrant experience with all its inherent struggles and also its promise. By sharing her deeply personal experience, Santiago provides a window into the broad, chaotic, often painful yet rich and rewarding saga that is the life of an immigrant.